Russia Calls on Ukraine to Be a Federal State

The Foreign Ministry is calling on Ukraine to become a federal state and call fresh elections.

In a statement posted Monday, the ministry urged Ukraine's parliament to call a constitutional assembly that could draft a new constitution to make the country federal, handing more power to its regions.

The Foreign Ministry said the proposals are part of its efforts to ease the tensions in Ukraine by diplomatic means.

Moscow insisted that Ukrainian regions should get broader autonomy and that the country should adopt a "neutral political and military status."